This is the grave of Don Francisco de Haro, first alcalde (mayor) of San Francisco, serving in 1835.  Mexico, having achieved independence from Spain in 1821, San Francisco and all of Alta California belonged to Mexico.  Don Francisco died in 1849, living to see the United States of America take San Francisco and all of Alta California from Mexico in 1848, a year before the beginning of the Gold Rush.

One reason Mexico lost California is that they were broke, primarily from their fight for independence from Spain.  If the discovery of gold had occurred at the height of Mexico's reign over California, things may have turned out differently.

A City Birds digital photo.